On the observability of "out-of-plane" quadrupolar magnetic perturbations in two-dimensional force-free reconnection

Nonlinear studies for "out-of-plane" magnetic perturbations in two-dimensional force-free magnetic reconnection are carried out to analyze if they are significant enough to be observable in concerned regimes. It is found that though in linear analysis [Bian et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 120702 (2007)] the "out-of-plane" quadrupolar magnetic perturbation can be generated in the "standard magnetohydrodynamics regime," it is too weak to be detected in observations. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.